The tolling of the New Year's bells brought not only joy but also a harsher winter.
Jiangcheng was snowbound all year round, and without central heating, the city was particularly damp and cold along the Lingjiang River during winter.
By early January, on a silent night, a heavy snowfall came suddenly, shrouding the entire city.
The soft snow absorbed all sounds, quieting the entire city down to a peaceful hush, perfect for lighting a fire for warmth, grabbing a book or playing a movie, and watching the snow flutter down outside the window as one drifted off to sleep.
Early in the morning, Lu Ban opened the window and took in the sight of the world outside, draped in silvery white, and breathed in the air of the New Year.
"So cold."
He closed the window and turned up the heat on the air conditioner by a degree.
